USS Cairo

The USS Cairo was a City-class ironclad gunboat built for the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She was one of the first ironclad warships in the U.S. Navy and played a significant role in the Western Theater of the war.

Cairo was commissioned in January 1862 and assigned to the Mississippi River Squadron, participating in operations against Confederate forces along the Mississippi and its tributaries. She saw action at the battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in February 1862, contributing to the Union victories that opened up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers.

On December 12, 1862, while clearing mines (then known as torpedoes) in the Yazoo River prior to a planned attack on Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Cairo was struck by two electrically detonated mines. She sank within 12 minutes, becoming the first warship in history to be sunk by an electrically detonated torpedo.

The wreck of the Cairo remained lost for over a century until its rediscovery in 1964. Salvage operations began in 1965, and much of the ship, including its armor, guns, and artifacts, was recovered. Due to difficulties in preserving the iron hull, it was cut into three sections during the salvage.

Today, the recovered portions of the USS Cairo, along with artifacts recovered from the wreck, are on display at the Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The USS Cairo Museum provides a valuable glimpse into the technology and life aboard an ironclad warship during the Civil War. The Cairo serves as a significant artifact of naval history and a poignant reminder of the human cost of the conflict.